Senior Communications Manager, Media & Digital Influence
Change Consulting is seeking a Senior Communications Manager to help lead our earned media and digital influence work across traditional and emerging channels. This role will be part of our media relations team and will drive strategy and execution for the digital ecosystem, such as Substacks and newsletters, citizen journalists, podcasts, social media influencer and citizen journalist outreach, along with traditional media.
The Senior Communications Manager will serve as a day-to-day lead on a portfolio of client accounts, managing projects, guiding staff, and building powerful relationships with journalists, creators, influencers, and storytellers who share our commitment to racial justice. They will help us expand what “earned media” means for our clients, designing approaches that reach people where they are - in inboxes, on feeds, on air, in print, and in community.
As with that of the entire agency, this work will be rooted in our values: belief in the power of changemakers, the courageous and creative people who believe a better world is possible; cherished, long-term partnerships with our clients and communities; racial justice, and centering all our work on the liberation of Black people and people of color; love, and bringing our whole hearts to everything we do; focus on high impact and low ego and drama; holding ourselves and our clients in the light of possibility; and believing in a world where more connection and joy is possible.
Current and former clients include: Akonadi Foundation, Black Futures Lab and Black to the Future Action Fund, Black Freedom Fund, Grantmakers for Girls of Color, The California Endowment, Power California, and more. More information about us can be found at change-llc.com.
What you’ll be doing
Day-to-day responsibilities will depend on what projects and partnerships we are working on, but may include:
Media and Digital Influence Leadership and Strategy
- Lead media and influence strategy for a portfolio of social justice clients, spanning traditional outlets, Substacks and newsletters, podcasts, influencers, and citizen journalists.
- Serve as a high-level client partner: help lead client calls, present recommendations, manage timelines, and ensure deliverables are on track and aligned with strategy.
- Monitor news and narrative trends across clients’ issue areas; surface opportunities, risks, and recommendations in a timely way.
- Track and report on results across channels, including media coverage, newsletter performance, podcast placements, influencer activations, and narrative shifts; translate data into learnings and recommendations.
Execution and Outreach
- Develop and refine pitch angles, narratives, and editorial calendars that connect client goals to the news cycle, culture, and community conversations.
- Lead proactive pitching and rapid-response outreach, including drafting pitches, contributed content and op-eds, press releases, talking points, and briefing materials.
- Design and run influencer and creator outreach plans: identify aligned creators, develop briefs, coordinate content and timelines, and ensure alignment with client values and brand.
- Help shape and manage Substack/newsletter strategies for clients and/or Change Consulting: plan content, coordinate with writers and designers, and track performance.
- Identify and pursue podcast placements and collaborations, including guest appearances, series concepts, and cross-promotions.
- Lead or support media event production such as press conferences, briefings, webinars, and virtual events, including run-of-show, speaker prep, and follow-up.
Relationship Cultivation and Management
- Own or co-own relationships with key journalists, editors, podcast producers, newsletter writers, influencers, and citizen journalists across issue areas and geographies.
- Oversee high-quality media lists and contact databases; make sure we are tracking not just traditional reporters but also independent outlets, creators, and citizen journalists.
Teamwork and Collaboration
- Guide and mentor collaborators: assign work, provide feedback, and support their growth.
- Collaborate closely with our Strategy & Narrative, Digital & Content, and Training & Capacity teams to ensure earned media and influence work is integrated and reinforcing.
Who you are
- You have 4-7 years of experience in communications, journalism, organizing, digital media, or a related field, with at least 3 years focused on media and digital influence work.
- You understand how the media, social media, and creator ecosystems operate — including independent outlets, Substacks/newsletters, podcasts, influencers, and citizen journalists — and you’re excited to work at the intersections.
- Deeply committed to racial justice, with a demonstrated understanding of systemic issues impacting Black communities and communities of color, and how narrative and media can support liberation.
- You nurture your curiosity and value continuous learning; you want to stay on top of trends and new ways of reaching and communicating with audiences.
- A strong writer and editor who can move between press releases, pitches, talking points, newsletters, social copy, and briefing documents with clarity and voice.
- You can see the bigger story, connect dots across channels, and translate complex issues into compelling, accessible narratives.
- Comfortable building and maintaining relationships with journalists, creators, and partners; you’re proactive, respectful, and reliable in your follow-through.
- Organized and detail-oriented: able to manage multiple projects and deadlines, keep a clear system, and communicate what you need to deliver excellent work.
- A problem solver who isn’t afraid to ask questions or for help, and comes with ideas and options, not just issues.
- A team player who is motivated by responsibility and delivering quality work, with a resilient, grounded, and collaborative attitude.
- Committed to personal and collective progress, learning, and growing, including giving and receiving feedback in service of our shared work.
Compensation and details
- This position reports to the Vice President of Media Relations (team lead).
- Title: Senior Communications Manager, Earned Media & Influence
- Compensation: $76,000 - $90,000
- Candidates should be based in the Bay Area, DC, or Atlanta.
- Bay Area-based candidates will work out of our company’s headquarters once per week.
Applications
Please submit a resume, introduction letter, at least three work samples, and three references as PDF attachments or links to careers@change-llc.com by May 29 with the subject line: Senior Communications Manager, Earned Media & Influence - YOUR NAME
Applications not submitted by email or without the required components will not be considered.
Change Consulting is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to hiring a diverse workforce and we value our inclusive culture. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals from all races, religions, gender identities, sexual orientations, ages, national origins, immigration/marital/veteran/disability statuses.
If you’re excited by this role but your professional experience doesn’t perfectly align with the qualifications listed, we still encourage you to apply.
If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, or otherwise participating in the selection process, please email us at careers@change-llc.com.
